Thursday, August 19, 2010
'The Job's Not Done' Bus Tour Visits Albuquerque and Santa Fe
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss is a former union member of Communication Workers of America, one of the leading partners in the national BlueGreen Alliance
A bus tour that highlights the potential to create good American jobs by passing comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation in the U.S. Senate stopped in Albuquerque and Santa Fe on Tuesday. At its New Mexico stops, the emphasis of The Job's Not Done tour, a project of The BlueGreen Alliance, was to urge Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman to support action on comprehensive legislation that will create and save millions of American, clean energy jobs, including up to 15,000 in New Mexico. The effort to enact a comprehensive bill has stalled in the Senate.
Christine Trujillo spoke as President of the American Federation of Teachers of New Mexico (AFT-NM),
a member of the national BlueGreen Alliance.
“Nearly 1 out of 10 Americans is still out of work. We need to create and preserve millions of jobs across the country, and we can do that with clean energy,” said Christine Trujillo, President of the American Federation of Teachers – New Mexico, at the Albuquerque stop. “Millions of American families are struggling to make ends meet, but we have a solution at our fingertips, and we can drive to a clean energy future now.”
The Job’s Not Done tour will travel to 17 states -- with more than 30 stops along the way -- and feature clean energy workers, union members and environmentalists urging Senate action on important job-creating clean energy legislation. Workers on The Job’s Not Done Tour worry that China will take the millions of potential jobs that will result from the transition to a clean energy economy.
“Instead of importing clean energy technologies from overseas, we should be developing and manufacturing the technology to harness American energy here at home,” said John Hendry of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 480 at the Santa Fe stop.“We cannot afford to let China take the millions of jobs that could be created in America by transitioning to clean energy.”
“Comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation will put America back on the path to economic success -- revitalizing current industries and creating new ones, establishing the United States as the undisputed leader in clean energy technologies, and creating good American clean energy jobs now,” said Mark Mullholand, a worker in the clean energy economy and a member of USW Local 1915 in Fremont, Ohio.
The tour continued with stops in Colorado yesterday, and will wrap up on September 3 in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.
“This tour is a reminder that millions of people are out of work, and that clean energy is the best way to jumpstart the American economy. We need the Senate to get back to work and get the job done -- for our families, the economy, our environment, and the future,” said Shrayas Jatkar from the Sierra Club and Clean Energy Works.
The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean energy economy. Launched by the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers in 2006, the BlueGreen Alliance now includes the Communications Workers of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Service Employees International Union, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Utility Workers Union of America, American Federation of Teachers, Amalgamated Transit Union and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
Photos by Jake Horowitz, Environment New Mexico/Clean Energy Works coalition.
August 19, 2010 at 08:58 AM in Climate, Energy, Environment, Green Economy, Labor | Permalink | Comments (1)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan's Espanola Drug Summit Sets the Stage for Unified Action
Yesterday, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) met with members of the community in Espanola to talk about substance abuse in New Mexico. He was joined by a panel of experts that included elected officials, state health care and treatment providers, law enforcement officials and members of the community to discuss how to best fight substance abuse.
“Today I was proud to see our community standing together against this problem in our neighborhoods,” Rep. Lujan said at the summit. “This issue is very personal to everyone present today because substance abuse doesn’t just affect one person but penetrates our entire community. So to make an impact, we must work closely together to make sure that everyone -- from the people on the ground to the legislators in office -- is doing their part to fight this problem.”
According to Rep. Lujan's office, the summit focused on education, early prevention and taking a proactive approach to the problem. Community members at the summit emphasized that drug abuse is something that affects the entire community, and that was made clear by the stories of overdose and addiction told by those in attendance.
“It was a very productive discussion,” according to Herman Silva, a Santa Fe resident and a co-chair of the Interdiction Team, a team in Espanola that gathers together to overcome drug issues locally. “I think that having the panel and also hearing from the community, and maybe even the drug consumers, was great. They all seemed to agree that being proactive was the most important part.”
Rep. Lujan said he understands the longstanding substance abuse concerns facing our state and how they take a toll not only on the sufferer of the addiction but their family, friends and our society. He explained that he has fought to fund prevention and treatment programs and supported legislation in Congress that would focus on rehabilitation for young offenders.
“I am committed to the people of Northern New Mexico and of all New Mexico to working side by side in this fight against substance abuse,” Rep. Lujan said. “I’m proud I can walk away from this meeting knowing that we can move forward as a community to end this enduring problem.”
August 18, 2010 at 06:51 PM in Children and Families, Drugs, Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) | Permalink | Comments (2)
(Updates x 3) Ways to Check Out the 8/19 Debate Between Diane Denish and Susana Martinez
Update 3: Learned it will also be webcast live on kob.com, krqe.com and koat.com.
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Update 2: KNME issued a statement saying they will provide a live video feed of the debate on the New Mexico In Focus website.
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Update 1: APS has announced that it will provide a live video feed tonight, as well as an audio feed, at its website.
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The first big debate between New Mexico's gubernatorial candidates, Dem and Repub Susana Martinez, is set for Thursday, August 18, at 6:00 PM at the El Dorado High School performing arts center. Hosted by Albuquerque Public Schools (), the event will be moderated by Superintendent Winston Brooks and will focus on public education issues.
Unfortunately, public access to the event is limited because the venue seats only 400 people. Invited guests include APS students, teachers, administrators and the Board of Education among others -- which pretty much accounts for all the tickets. They're at capacity. Apparently media access is also constricted due to space considerations, at least for bloggers. We couldn't get a press pass and we hear that a couple of other local blogs had the same problem, despite all of us having gained media entrance in the past even to presidential events.
According to an its spokesperson, APS offered a larger space, such as a gym, for the debate, but the two candidates preferred a smaller venue. And so it goes.
Fortunately, there are several ways to listen to the debate. See below.
The event will air live on KANW-FM (89.1) in Albuquerque, and live audio will be streamed on the APS website. A series of videos from the debate will also be posted on the APS website following the event.
The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County (DPBC) is hosting a debate listening party tomorrow evening at Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall, located at 510 San Pedro SE in Albuquerque, and the Santa Fe County Dems (DPSFC) are doing the same at County Party HQ, located at 1420 Cerrillos Rd. in Santa Fe.
The folks at the New Mexico Independent, in conjunction with Steve Terrell of the Santa Fe New Mexican, will also be live blogging the debate. They'll get started around 5:45 PM tomorrow, and I'm sure they'll do their usual bang-up job.
The Denish camp has proposed a total of eight gubernatorial debates to be held around the state, including three televised events, as well as three debates between the candidates for lieutenant governor -- Dem Brian Colon and Repub John Sanchez. As far as I know, the Martinez camp hasn't agreed to that schedule or any other debates.
August 18, 2010 at 02:07 PM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Education, Events, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Susana Martinez | Permalink | Comments (0)
Susana Martinez, Steve Pearce Join Other Oil-Funded Candidates Denying Climate Change
Just one day before a gubernatorial debate on education, it's been revealed that Republican candidate Susana Martinez doesn't believe in science -- or at least the science that demonstrates convincingly that human-produced greenhouse gases are resulting in rapid global climate change. According to an article on Politico:
New Mexico GOP nominee Susana Martinez told POLITICO in Albuquerque on Saturday that she had her doubts about the role human activity plays in global warming. “I’m not sure the science completely supports that,” she said.
Martinez joins a coterie of other right-wing reactionary Republican candidates -- like tea party favorites Sharon Angle, a Nevada Senate candidate, Ken Buck, a Senate candidate in Colorado, and our own Steve Pearce -- who essentially are climate change deniers. They seem to have at least one thing in common:
Gene Karpinksi, president of the League of Conservation Voters, suggested an alternative motive. "Republicans running for Senate, House and governor who question the sound and settled science of climate change are following in the footsteps of a Republican leadership team that is heavily financed by and strongly influenced by Big Oil,” he said.
You may recall that Martinez got a whole lot of cash from oil and gas interests in her primary run for governor, and she's on the record saying we shouldn't be protecting New Mexico's groundwater with the so-called pit rule. Susana's proposals regarding renewable energy, the green economy and the environment are virtually nonexistent, at least on the Issues tab on her campaign website. Obviously, Martinez just isn't interested in creating any real solutions to one of the most pressing problems of the 21st century. She's content to 'just say no' to the facts.
As to the science that Martinez and the others question:
Four independent reviews have concluded that the so-called “Climategate” e-mails stolen last fall from a United Kingdom research unit showed nothing more than a frank discussion among scientists working through large and complicated sets of data. And while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has admitted it erred in its 2007 report by citing a report concluding Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035, the Nobel Prize-winning U.N. organization said the mistake didn’t undermine its larger body of work.
Pearce: Science Is Crap
Enter New Mexico's right-wing radical Congressional candidate Steve Pearce (R, NM-02), who calls the science behind climate change "crap." Pearce has a long record of opposition to even the most modest environmental protections.
Former Republican Rep. Steve Pearce, running for his old seat in southern New Mexico, told POLITICO that climate scientists should be questioned more thoroughly because of the stolen e-mails.
“I think we ought to take a look at whatever the group is that measures all this, the IPCC, they don’t even believe the crap,” Pearce said in Artesia, N.M. “They’re the ones who say in the e-mails we’ve got to worry about this, keep these voices quiet. If they don’t believe it, why should the rest of [sic] be penalized in our standard of living for something that can’t be validated?”
Pearce was one of the first to be named by the League of Conservation Voters to this year's "Dirty Dozen" list.
“While in office, Rep. Steve Pearce took good care of Big Oil by maintaining their costly tax breaks while voting against every opportunity to create clean energy jobs, reduce pollution and improve fuel economy for New Mexico families,” said Karpinski. “His acceptance of nearly a million dollars in campaign contributions proves that as a returning Congressman he would be paid for by Big Oil and that’s why LCV is wasting no time naming him to the Dirty Dozen for the 2010 campaign cycle.”
In addition to owning millions of dollars of stock in Key Energy, a Texas-based oil services company, Rep. Pearce has accepted more from the oil and gas industry, $923,972, than from any other economic sector. He has voted to give more than $14 billion in tax breaks to the oil industry, opposed renewable electricity, and fought against fuel efficient cars that would save New Mexico families hundreds of dollars at the pump. LCV helped to defeat Rep. Pearce during his bid for the New Mexico seat in the U.S. Senate in its 2008 Dirty Dozen campaign. During his five years in Congress, Rep. Pearce earned an abysmal lifetime LCV score of 3%.
Pearce, Martinez and the others are clearly in the sway of moneyed interests that will do and say almost anything to convince people the facts don't count on climate change. As on so many other issues, Susana and Steve want you to believe in myths and ignore truths. Don't get sucked in by the right-wing echo chamber.
August 18, 2010 at 11:00 AM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Climate, Energy, Environment, NM-02 Congressional Race 2010, Steve Pearce, Susana Martinez | Permalink | Comments (4)
Stephen Jones: A Band of Cowards
This is a post by contributing writer, Stephen Jones, who is a progressive political activist and a resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
It is another week and with it, yet another grating message of intolerance from the Republican Party. Fast on the heels of last week’s assault on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and birthright citizenship, the party of “no” now aims to overturn the 1st Amendment and trample upon the most deeply held conviction of the framers of the United States Constitution, cast at the very inception of the nation’s founding, the individual right of conscience.
This time Republicans have taken aim against the planned Islamic community center to be opened in a former Burlington Coat Factory storefront and office building two blocks from the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center terror attack. The center (and not a mosque) is intended to serve New York’s large Muslim community, along with members of other faiths, who live and work in the lower Manhattan neighborhoods.
Fear Mongering For Votes
This predictable and unseemly GOP attack on New York City’s Muslim communities would be laughable if it weren’t so brazenly calculated to stir up unfounded fears among the base of Republican voters nationally, and to generate divisions between Americans for the purpose of garnering a few extra votes in the upcoming midterm election.
Over the past weekend, Republican Presidential hopefuls were out in force to bash Muslims. Sarah Palin has been pandering to the hateful for weeks. Muscling his way to the forefront, Newt Gingrich, the one-time Speaker of the House said, “There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia.” Appearing on FOX Gingrich compared Muslims to Nazis. “Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the holocaust museum in Washington,” Gingrich said. Joining the over-the-top chorus, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said the so-called “mosque” would “degrade or disrespect” hallowed ground. Mitt Romney, another Presidential hopeful, suggested the center might become a recruiting ground for terrorists.
Beyond the GOP Presidential rivals, all of the usual right-wing operatives have jumped aboard from FOX and the talk-radio media machine. Rush Limbaugh, the de facto leader of the Republican Party, told his audience that the New York Islamic center was tantamount to the Japanese opening a Hindu temple at Pearl Harbor.
I suppose I might point out here that Japan is almost entirely a Buddhist and Shinto nation, and probably has few Hindus other than those natives of India who are travelling on the east Asian archipelago, but the obvious lack of basic grade-school international knowledge of the Republican leadership is not the point. The issue here is the use of pathetic primal fears and hatreds to generate a few extra votes. Lacking any platform or program to meet the real challenges facing Americans today, the Republican Party has simply fallen back into its customary comfort zone, namely stirring up tribal bigotry.
Radical Islamic Power Center?
The so-called “mosque” is, in reality, to be a community center modeled on the YMCA, with a swimming pool, and sports and exercise facilities. It will include a prayer room. Muslims, who pray five times a day, require quiet contemplative areas to separate themselves from the bustle of urban life. The center plans to provide that space. As any resident of any large city knows, there are many similar Muslim prayer rooms across the United States, including at the Pentagon. The center received the approval of the City of New York’s zoning board by a 29-1 vote. The Mayor, the New York City Council and the citizens of New York all support the opening of the center, overwhelmingly.
Far from some radical Islamic power center, the facility was organized by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, a moderate clerical leader. In 1997, he founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement to promote the positive integration of Muslims into a pluralistic American society. He has participated regularly in Christian/Muslim/Jewish dialog groups and according to the FBI has worked with its anti-terrorist efforts. In short, he is a mainstream religious leader.
It is not Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and the planned community center that stand outside the mainstream of American society. Rather it is the Republican Party that stands in contempt of our cherished American values. The founders of our nation held that the freedom of conscience was first and foremost among our rights as citizens, rights that could never be abridged by pandering politicians. They cast that right of conscience into the 1st Amendment.
Framers Embraced Religious Diversity
Unlike today’s GOP leadership the framers of the Constitution were not afraid of religious diversity. Islam has always been a part of the American fabric. President Thomas Jefferson was the first American President to officially observe Ramadan at the White House in 1805. As a secular republic, our nation has welcomed all religions since its founding.
The Treaty of Tripoli, sent to the Congress by President Washington in 1796 and signed by President Adams in 1797 declared a state of harmony between this nation and the other nations of the world specifically in the area of religious belief. It reads, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
Stand Up for American Ideals
Largely due to the rhetoric of bigots inside the United States, many of nations of the world are still doubtful as to whether we are, truly, a country based on principles or just one made up of petty tribal fears. The Republican Party has shown itself to be a band of narrow and hateful cowards. The rest of us need to stand up for the ideals of our heritage and for our genuine American values, including the founding creed of our nation; the recognition of the right of conscience for all people, both for ourselves, and for those who live beyond our shores.
To read more posts by Stephen Jones, visit our archive.
August 18, 2010 at 12:43 AM in By Stephen Jones, Contributing Writer, Civil Liberties, History, Minority Issues, Religion, Republican Party, Right Wing | Permalink | Comments (7)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Governor Bill Richardson Meets with NIH Officials About Alamogordo Chimpanzees
Governor Bill Richardson today met with officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD to discuss his concerns regarding their plan to transfer the chimpanzees from the Alamogordo Primate Facility to a facility in Texas for medical research. He reiterated his call to have the chimps permanently retired and to turn the Alamogordo facility into a sanctuary for the primates.
"I appreciate NIH officials listening to my concerns, shared by many New Mexicans and others around the country, about the organization's planned transfer of chimpanzees from their home in Alamogordo and the continuation of invasive medical research on the primates," Richardson said in a statement released about the meeting. "While it appears they are holding steadfast to their position, I am holding steadfast to mine. I will continue pressing for a humane, long-term care solution for the care of these chimpanzees which have already had to endure years of medical testing."
Governor Richardson also stated that he believes the National Academy of Sciences should do an independent review of policies regarding the use of chimps for medical research. He also requested a tour of the Alamogordo Primate Facility operated by Charles River Laboratories and located on Holloman Air Force Base.
According to the agreement with Holloman, no research may be conducted on the primates while they are at the facility. The lab’s contract with NIH is set to expire in May 2011 at which time NIH plans to transfer the chimps to Texas.
At today's meeting, NIH officials said they plan to keep staffing levels at the Alamogordo facility at the same level through 2011 and are committed to helping find an alternative use and job opportunities for the facility.
Also see our previous post on this issue. Visit the website of to learn more about this tragedy and keep current on developments. You can sign a petition against the NIH plans here. An Albuquerque Journal calls the federal stance on the chimpanzees "cruel and indefensible."
In addition, you can sign up to support the Great Apes Protection Act, which would stop any and all research from being done on approximately 1,000 chimpanzees in the U.S. There are two identical bipartisan bills on the table -- H.R. 1326 in the House of Representatives and S. 3694 in the Senate — and they need to move quickly.
August 17, 2010 at 02:43 PM in Animal Protection, Gov. Bill Richardson, Government | Permalink | Comments (1)
8/21: Campaign Volunteer Kickoff for BernCo Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins
From Campaign to Elect Maggie Hart Stebbins:
A Volunteer Kickoff Event for Maggie Hart Stebbins will be held on Saturday, August 21st, at 9:30 AM, at AFSCME Headquarters, located at 1202 Pennsylvania NE in Albuquerque.
Join other volunteers in the effort to elect County Commissioner () Maggie Hart Stebbins. There will be a volunteer-oriented informational meeting starting at 9:30 AM, followed by the initial District 3 door-to-door canvass. A light breakfast will be provided. Please RSVP or direct questions to mhstebbins@gmail.com or 505-750-4624.
Since joining the commission, Maggie has worked to rebuild our local economy and is fighting for ethics and spending reform in county government. Please help us keep Maggie Hart Stebbins as District 3 County Commissioner in 2010.
Photo by M. E. Broderick.
August 17, 2010 at 12:33 PM in 2010 Bernalillo County Commission Races, Events | Permalink | Comments (0)
8/27: Congressional Forum Hosted by Women Impacting Public Policy and ACI in Albuquerque
From Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP):
Women Impacting Public Policy and the Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI) invite you to attend a New Mexico Congressional Forum.
Friday, August 27, 2010
11:00 AM-2:00 PM (Call to order: 11:30 AM)
Marriott Pyramid North
5151 San Francisco Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM
- Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-1st) & Jon Barela, (R-1st)
- Rep. Harry Teague (D-2nd) invited & Former Rep. Steve Pearce, (R-2nd)
- Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-3rd) & Tom Mullins, (R-3rd)
- Gubernatorial Candidates Susana Martinez (R) & Diane Denish (D) invited
Moderator: Terry Neese, President, IEEW and WIPP Cofounder. Registration rate: $35 per person or $350 for a reserved table for 10. Online registration is available until 8/27/2010. For additional information, please contact Kay Carrico, kay@expertsinexports.com.
August 17, 2010 at 11:49 AM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Business, Events, NM-01 Congressional Seat 2010, NM-02 Congressional Race 2010, NM-03 Congressional Race 2010, Women's Issues | Permalink | Comments (2)
Monday, August 16, 2010
New Radio Ad: Martinez's Sweetheart Deals vs. Denish's 'Budget Bulldog' Award
The campaign released a new radio ad that will begin airing today on Albuquerque metro stations. Click to listen to an mp3 of the ad.
The ad contrasts recent stories of Susana Martinez's cronyism and use of border-security money to give fat bonuses to allies with Diane Denish's record of consistently under-spending her budget and earning a Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce 'Budget Bulldog' award for taking a stand against new taxes.
"New Mexicans are starting to learn a lot about the real Susana Martinez," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "I don't know what's worse: Cutting sweetheart no-bid deals with your cronies or Martinez saying she'd do it all over again as governor. Either way, that's not the leadership our state needs during these tough times."
Here's a transcript of the 60-second ad:
Breaking News: The Albuquerque Journal revealed on August 9th that candidate Susana Martinez spent hundreds of thousands in border security funds on pay raises and bonuses to state employees in her office.
Repeat: Susana Martinez spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer-dollars on bonuses for aides instead of on border security.
The Journal also reports that Susana Martinez spent 60 thousand in taxpayer dollars to buy office supplies from her top deputy’s home business. It was a no-bid deal. There wasn’t even a contract.
In other news, Diane Denish earned a budget bulldog award from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce opposing big tax increases on families.
And because Diane Denish came in under-budget every year, she’s returned nearly a quarter of million dollars to taxpayers.
The facts are clear: Diane Denish is looking out for New Mexico’s budget. And our families.
While Susana Martinez is just another typical politician looking out for herself. She’s not on our side AND not the change we need.
Paid for by the Committee to elect Diane D. Denish.
August 16, 2010 at 05:44 PM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Political Ads, Susana Martinez, Taxes | Permalink | Comments (0)
Udall & Bingaman Host NM Broadband Summit; $73M in Grants, Loans Announced
Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman today co-hosted a New Mexico Broadband & Smart Grid Summit in Moriarty that featured the announcement of more than $73 million in grants and awards to expand broadband services to rural, underserved areas of New Mexico.
More than 300 people attended the summit at the Moriarty Civic Center, according to a statement released by the Senators. The summit included panel sessions featuring experts on the challenges and opportunities facing New Mexico as it works to overcome the digital divide and harness broadband technologies to promote economic growth, energy independence and health care delivery. Udall led the first panel session, titled “Wiring New Mexico for the Future;” while Bingaman led the second panel, titled “Bringing Broadband to Energy -- Smart Grid in New Mexico.”
Funding for Taos, Colfax, Rio Arriba Counties
Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the Rural Electricity Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), also gave a keynote address in which he announced $63.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for a broadband infrastructure project that will deliver affordable broadband service to 29 communities in rural, underserved areas of Taos, Colfax and Rio Arriba counties. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will receive a $44 million grant and a $19 million loan – for a total of $63.8 million – to create the 2,400-mile broadband network, which will connect approximately 20,500 households, 3,600 businesses, 183 critical community institutions and two Native American Pueblos.
“This project will give rural New Mexico residents access to the broadband they need to attract new businesses, jobs, health care and educational opportunities,” Adelstein said. “It will enable Kit Carson to deploy cutting edge smart grid technology that will help cut electric bills and permit sustainable energy development. The Obama Administration understands that bringing broadband to rural New Mexico will give families, businesses and key anchor institutions --- such as schools, libraries and first responders --service that is second to none. This project will create immediate jobs building out the network, and the completed system will provide a platform for economic growth in Northern New Mexico for years to come.”
Additional Funding for Northern NM
Also at the summit, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Deputy Administrator Anna M. Gomez announced a separate, $10.6 million ARRA grant to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District’s REDI Net project, which will make high-quality broadband services more affordable and accessible to residents, businesses, and public institutions in Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties, northern Santa Fe and five Native American tribal communities.
“Today was a big day for New Mexico,” Udall said. “Not only did we bring experts from across the spectrum together to discuss the challenges our state faces in bridging the digital divide, but we also took an important step forward in connecting our rural areas with the announcement of more than $73 million in grants and loans. Broadband creates jobs. Broadband connects communities. That’s what this summit is about today.”
"New Mexico is poised to be a leader in expanding broadband access and the use of ‘smart grid’ technology to reduce consumers' utility bills, and I believe the summit will help make that a reality," Bingaman said. "The grants announced today show that the federal government can be a very important partner in meeting our state's broadband and smart grid needs."
Congressman Ben Ray Luján also lauded today's recovery announcement for expanded broadband into the northern area of his district.
“I am proud to see Recovery funds supporting much-needed broadband in Northern New Mexico. I commend REDI Net for investing in our communities and connecting our families and small businesses to the world,” Luján said.
Governor Bill Richardson issued a statement saying, “This is a tremendous boost for New Mexico, and especially for our rural residents that often lack access to affordable and high-quality broadband services. This project will create jobs and lead to better opportunities in education and economic development.”
Panelists for Udall’s discussion of “Wiring New Mexico for the Future” included: Dr. Dale Alverson, Director of the Center for Telehealth and Cybermedicine Research at the University of New Mexico; John Badal, Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Wind Communications; Sharon Gillett, Wireline Competition Bureau Chief for the Federal Communications Commission; Dr. Susan Oberlander, State Librarian, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, and Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utility Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Panelists for Bingaman’s discussion of “Bringing Broadband to Energy – Smart Grid in New Mexico” included: Dr. Tom Bowles, Science Advisor for Governor Bill Richardson; Suedeen Kelly, Partner at Patton Boggs LLP; Eric Lightner, Director of the Federal Smart Grid Task Force at the U.S. Department of Energy; Dr. Daniel López, President of New Mexico Tech; Dr. Terry Michalske, Director of Energy and Security Systems at Sandia National Laboratories; and Luis Reyes, Chief Executive Officer of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.
August 16, 2010 at 05:12 PM in Broadband, Economy, Populism, Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama Administration, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03), Rural Issues, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Sen. Tom Udall | Permalink | Comments (3)